Queensland Arts Minister Overrides Board to Name Theatre Glasshouse, Ignoring Oodgeroo Noonuccal Recommendation
Documents obtained under right to information laws reveal that Queensland arts minister John-Paul Langbroek intervened to ensure a new theatre would not be named after the celebrated Aboriginal poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal, overriding the explicit recommendations of the theatre's board. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre board had strongly advocated for naming the venue after Oodgeroo, describing her as a profoundly influential storyteller and truth-teller, but the minister proceeded with the name Glasshouse Theatre instead.
Minister's Intervention and Public Vote Controversy
An email from a government adviser shows that Langbroek was set on the name Glasshouse Theatre as early as January 2025, awaiting final sign-off from the premier. He formally approved the name on February 3, 2025, before consulting with the Qpac board and months before opening a public vote where Glasshouse was declared the winner with over 42% support. Notably, Oodgeroo was not included as an option in the public poll, despite being the board's preferred choice.
The Qpac chief executive, Rachel Healy, objected to the Glasshouse name in an email, arguing it would cause confusion due to other Australian venues with the same name. She also highlighted that the Qpac Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group had recommended naming it Oodgeroo as an inspirational national example of Queensland creative leadership.
Board's Strong Advocacy for Oodgeroo Noonuccal
In March 2024, the Qpac board recommended seven names to the then Labor minister Leeanne Enoch, but emphasized that Oodgeroo's name stands out. They described her legacy as one of resilience, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to justice and reconciliation. Oodgeroo Noonuccal, born Kath Ruska in Brisbane in 1920, remains one of Australia's best-known poets, with her 1964 work We Are Going being the first published book of verse by an Aboriginal person and the first by an Aboriginal woman.
She was also a prominent activist for Aboriginal rights, famously informing former prime minister Robert Menzies that he had committed an offense by offering her a sherry during the 1967 referendum campaign, as it was illegal to buy alcohol for an Aboriginal person in Queensland at the time.
Community Reaction and Political Backlash
Oodgeroo's oldest grandson, Raymond Walker, described the decision as disrespectful and indicative of the state government's reluctance to honor an Aboriginal woman. He expressed disappointment that her name was suggested and then ignored, calling it terrible and ignorant. The chair of the Australian Society of Authors, Jennifer Mills, criticized the move as political interference in the arts to downplay an Indigenous legacy that the community wanted to reflect.
Simultaneously, the Liberal National party lobbied to rename the state electorate of Oodgeroo to Cleveland, a change included in draft electoral boundaries released this week. The LNP argued that electorate names should remain intuitive and geographically grounded, though it supported retaining names for figures like Captain James Cook in the same submission.
Government Defense and Future Considerations
Premier David Crisafulli defended the decision, stating that Glasshouse Theatre is fitting and marketable globally, with Queenslanders backing it in the public vote. He acknowledged Oodgeroo's significance and suggested the government might find other ways to honor her, noting she grew up on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island. The theatre opened to the public on March 7, with its first event, The Last Ship, scheduled for April 9.
A Qpac spokesperson confirmed that the Queensland government determined the name following the public vote. This controversy highlights ongoing tensions between political decisions and cultural recognition in Queensland's arts and electoral landscape.
